FaZe Clan has benched long-time rifler Håvard “rain” Nygaard, marking the end of one of CS2’s most iconic player–organization partnerships.
FaZe announced today that rain, their longest-serving member and a cornerstone of the roster since 2016, has been moved to the bench. The decision coincides with the return of Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken, who re-joins the active lineup.
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A Historic Run Comes to a Halt
Rain joined FaZe Clan in January 2016, when the organization first entered CS:GO by acquiring the G2 roster. Since then, the Norwegian rifler has become synonymous with FaZe, competing in nearly every major event and lifting some of the biggest trophies in Counter-Strike history.
Across his career with FaZe, rain:
- Won 19 notable tournaments, including the PGL Antwerp 2022 Major.
- Captured an Intel Grand Slam in 2023.
- Earned four MVP medals.
- Appeared in the HLTV Top 20 players ranking three times, most recently in 2022 at #13.
Rain’s departure from the active roster represents the end of an era not just for FaZe, but for Counter-Strike as a whole. Few players have embodied loyalty and longevity in the modern scene the way he has.
What’s Next for FaZe
The lineup shakeup paves the way for Twistzz’s return after a stint in North America with Liquid. His arrival sees Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski move out of the active squad, while FaZe also continues with newer addition jcobbb, signed in August.
FaZe’s current roster is as follows:
- Finn “karrigan” Andersen
- David “frozen” Čerňanský
- Helvijs “broky” Saukants
- Jakub “jcobbb” Myrbostad (jcobbb)
- Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken
- Filip “NEO” Kubski (coach)
The team’s next appearance will be at ESL Pro League Season 22 Stage 2, kicking off on October 4. FaZe will look to break an 18-month trophy drought, with their last title dating back to IEM Chengdu 2024.
What’s Next for rain?
Despite being benched, rain made it clear he is not hanging up his mouse. In a post on X, the 29-year-old expressed gratitude for his time with FaZe and the support from fans, while also signaling his openness to new challenges.
“I’m proud of everything I accomplished with FaZe. This isn’t the end — I’m not retiring. I’m open to new roles, even as an in-game leader, if the right opportunity comes.”
The Bigger Picture for FaZe
Rain’s benching underscores FaZe’s desire to reset after a turbulent run of results. Their recent exit at FISSURE Playground 2 — where they finished 9th–11th following losses to Falcons, TheMongolZ, and Liquid — highlighted the struggles of the current iteration.
For FaZe, the return of Twistzz is a bid to restore consistency and firepower. For rain, it is a new chapter after nearly a decade as the face of FaZe Clan.
Either way, this roster move will be remembered as one of the most significant moments in Counter-Strike roster history.
